Neither of these news organizations are likely hoping the GOP gets things figured out any time soon, but both are defining the problem with some clarity.

The Times says the Party is grappling with "vexing divisions over its identity and image, and mainstream leaders complain that more ideologically-driven conservatives are damaging the Party with tactics like the government shutdown."

The Post says if any lessons were learned from the Virginia election, they were lost in the almost instant finger pointing, even before the polls closed.

But perhaps there is a lesson to be learned.

What is the Party planning? What about the Party platform that the Party simultaneously embraces and dismisses?

The Party leaders are moving to change state caucuses and conventions like the one that nominated Mr. Cuccinelli in Virginia.

Why?

Well, they say, in favor of a "more open primary system" that will "produce more moderate candidates."

Party leaders are saying that conservatives are highly motivated and therefore get their candidates elected in primaries---and that is the problem within the Party.

Mitt Romney says he agrees.

Is Party leadership suggesting that conservatives and people of faith continue to work as they do to elect candidates who embrace their conservative and biblical values, but direct their effort and passion toward candidates who do not share those values?

Is the GOP trying to create a culture of schizophrenia in their attempt to find themselves?

Web M.D. says the symptoms of schizophrenia are:

Hallucinations--seeing or hearing imaginary things.

Delusions--wildly false beliefs.

Paranoia--the fear others are plotting against you.

Phil Cox, a Virginia based Republican strategist tells the NYT, the GOP needs to change how they choose candidates in primaries, because the Republican base is choosing candidates who are too conservative---and therefore unelectable. And unacceptable to the GOP leadership.

This is, of course, the very same line that was put forth in Washington State in 2012, producing a slate of so-called "moderate" candidates for statewide offices.

Even Jay Inslee was able to beat that game plan and the candidate. It wasn't even close.

The Times says there is a fierce struggle for power between the activist, often Tea Party-dominated wing of the Republican Party---"whose members tend to be devoted to showing up and organizing events like a Party convention---and the more mainstream wing, which is frustrated by its inability to rein in the extremist elements and by the fact that the message is not resonating with more voters."

Is the GOP suggesting they want to create a culture of schizophrenia? Or do they simply want the base that appears to be doing all the work to compromise their values, but continue with the same passion and effort on behalf of candidates that do not share their values?

Or are they suggesting conservatives become less active---less involved?

If this is the emerging strategy, the future doesn't look terribly promising for the Party.

It appears the Party believes Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney could have won if only the conservatives and people of faith would have pretended to believe these candidates represented their conservative and biblical values.

This is a "wildly false belief."

The NYT highlights the appearance of Senator Mike Lee from Texas as an example of what is wrong in the Party. They point out he "toppled one of the veteran Republican centrists in the Senate, Bob Bennett."

Lee is also credited with changing the face of the Party in his state. And assisting Senator Ted Cruz.

But Lee was elected to the Senate by the people of the state, not a small group of unacceptable activists. Are all these folks misguided activists who are voting wrong?

Apparently.

I sincerely hope my Party, and that of millions of conservatives and people of faith, is not preparing to ask me and millions of others to "see and hear imaginary things" in regard to our deeply held beliefs.

I hope the GOP is not struck with paranoia, thinking that conservatives and people of faith are somehow "plotting against them."

Millions of conservatives and people of faith are merely working to support candidates who actually embrace the planks in the Party platform.

I do believe, however, that the Party leadership is "hearing or seeing imaginary things."

When true, qualified, conservatives run for national office, such as the office of president, they do fairly well. None have been nominated in recent years.

Karl Rove, defending himself on Fox News recently, promised that his super PAC does not oppose conservative candidates. He said, "We will support the most conservative candidates whom we believe can win."

And that may well be the heart of the matter. "Whom we believe can win."

Perhaps the Party should spend less time formulating their plans on the directives of highly paid strategists and more time evaluating their true base and their platform.

Web M.D. says, "There is no cure for schizophrenia, but treatment can control the symptoms."

I just wish the Party would give us a chance and put all their resources behind a true conservative. Could that be worse than this?

Ronald Reagan thinks that's a great idea.

I also hear biblical Joshua speaking to us. I'll talk more about that on the radio today, live at 9 AM PST. Here's how to listen in from anywhere in the world

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Bold. Be Pro-Active. Be Blessed.

3 comments:

Friends lets face it for years the mainstream Republicans have relied on its base of support, the conservatives, to help win elections, but on key social and fiscal issues have left them turning in the wind.

I think that it is time to consider forming a new party, the conservative party. Why, the government shutdown was in no way the fault of the Republicans. Why, the Republicans in the house voted to fund all of government except the so called Affordable Care Act but the Democrats and the President said no realizing that this act would shut down government due to both parties imbibing in enormous deficit spending. Thus the shut down took place and the devious democrats cleverly hung the shutdown on the Republicans. Along the way the R's loose the Virginia governors seat which by the way would have been held by a conservative Republican which would be anathima to the ruling Republican mainstream.

Than comes the health care roll out with many people loosing their health care. What is the Republican response to this, more or less silence with some complaining.

Why didn't the Republican leadership say we knew this was going to happen that's why we tried to defund the so called affordable care act which in the end the Democrats and unfortunately some Republicans in the House supported in their vote of the CR. You have not heard a word of this have you.

Than comes Obama lying and spinning on the issue of keeping your health care as the Affordable Care Act rolls but what you did not know Obama due to the way the act was written most likely had his staff change the regulations so that you could not keep your health insurance. Obama than apologizes for the so called misunderstanding which by the way a Republican Senator pointed this out in 2011 after he saw the regulations. What does Obama and the democrats do about it, nothing but let the law stand instead of changing the law so you can keep your health care. Than you have to ask why won't Obama and Congress change the regulation and do it now? Lets face it, is not about health care it is about we the people becoming we the slaves.

Oh I forgot what have the Republicans done about funding abortion which is exploding and true tax reform. Naturally the Republicans in the house are saying they cannot do anything about this but the House contains the power of the purse which can bring about changes without the Senate. The problem is that you need Representatives who know the rules and use them. They also need to know how to successfully communicate with the public. Both of these elements are sorely missing in the Republican leadership.

10:29I think you hit the nail on the head, too many so-called RINO's in leadership and they're not listening to their base. I for one don't consider myself a Republican or Tea Party or anything else but a conservative. I will not vote for anything less than a true conservative. Why should we compromise to get more of the same soft, weak, feckless candidates? Thanks, but no thanks, and I'm not alone.